Inhibitory activity of tea polyphenol and Hanseniaspora uvarum against Botrytis cinerea infections

Aims: To investigate the effect of tea polyphenol (TP) and Hanseniaspora uvarum alone or in combination against Botrytis cinerea in grapes and to evaluate the possible mechanisms involved. Methods and Results: TP alone was effective in controlling grey mould in grape at all concentrations. TP at 0 center dot 5 and 1 center dot 0% in combination with H. uvarum (1 x 106 CFU ml-1) showed a lower infection rate of grey mould. TP at 0 center dot 01% or above significantly inhibited the spore germination of B. cinerea. TP at 0 center dot 1% showed inhibition ability on mycelium growth of B. cinerea. The addition of TP did not affect the growth of H. uvarum in vitro and significantly increased the population of H. uvarum in vivo. Conclusions: TP exhibited an inhibitory effect against B. cinerea and improved the biocontrol efficacy of H. uvarum. The inhibitory effects of spore germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea and the increased populations of H. uvarum in vivo may be some of the important mechanisms of TP. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results suggested that TP alone or in combination with biocontrol agents has great potential in the commercial management of postharvest diseases of fruits.